What Are Your Sutras?

Since reading the book, " The Path To Love", by Deepak Chopra I have been collecting, and writing sutras. Actually, I have been collecting them and writing some of my own for many years before ever hearing the word sutras or knowing what they were. There are many kinds of sutras. In Sanskrit, it translates into the word "thread".

Deepak Chopra describes a sutra being, "an aphorism or formula that expresses some fundamental truth about consciousness." Rumi said, " Love is the sea where intellect drowns," this is a sutra. Sutras express your frame of mind in the present moment, or where you are, along the road in the journey of life. As a recovering person, 17 years in a 12 Step program, we have our own sutras that we call, " Slogans." They are powerful tools that help us live our daily lives in recovery, if we use them.

Over the past week, I have heard Jack Layton express sutras in his letter to Canadians, what Steven Lewis referred to as being a Manifesto.  I have been reflecting deeply on these and what Jack said and believed, and it is timely for me to be doing so, as I am soon returning to University to finish my last year of University upon graduating in the Spring 2012. I have many goals to achieve and look forward to the coming year with much anticipation and excitement.

Sutras are a insightful and tangible way to enable my focus in fulfilling my objectives and goals. I would call them very specific self-talk, meditation and prayer.

In one of my many journals I keep, every year I write out what is called a soul bargain, in a little booklet I have also for my sutras, based on the spiritual meaning of love, measured by what it can do, and what it is supposed to accomplish. Here is the list.

Love is meant to heal.
Love is meant to renew.
Love is meant to make us safe.
Love is meant to inspire us with it's power.
Love is meant to make us certain, without doubt.
Love is meant to oust all fear.
Love is meant to unveil immortality.
Love is meant to bring peace.
Love is meant to harmonize differences.
Love is meant to bring us closer to God.

After I write out what it is I want from Love, in a detailed and complete manner, as specific as I can make it, I put it away, in a safe place, and then I am attentive over the passing months, believing that Love will respond. There is nothing more for me to do but these four things. When I feel love, act on it. Speak my heart. Be truthful. Remain open.

Today, as I finished writing my new soul bargain for the coming year, I now have a very special collection of sutras from Jack Layton which I will never forget and want to always keep close to my heart.

It's Official! The Best May Day Ever!

Today I received official word through a letter in the mail, that I have been accepted into the Fine Art Department at Mount Allison University!

I already knew I had been accepted but hadn't actually received my confirmation through letter. I had been called May 14th and was told. I also knew I had been accepted into the BA program sometime ago, and had been sent a letter by mail. I was very emotional that day. I didn't react emotionally when I got the phone call informing I was accepted into the Fine Art Department.

There is something about receiving in an official letter that has a profound effect on me. Today I had another cry and I felt overwhelmed and thought of my mother and wished she was here to share in my joy.

There are many reasons I expect, that I have found myself at almost 56 years of age, returning to finish my BFA degree. It has been something that has weighed on my heart for many years. Mainly I contribute my return to University with the, " Soul Bargin, " I made months back. This I learned about in Deepak Chopra's book, The Path To Love; one of those life changing reads.

I'd promised to write about this in my blog in the recent past entries but it wasn't the right time. Now is the time. However, I am absolutely physically spent tonight after working outside all day in the yard so I will leave this til another entry this week. I promise!

Namaste